One point missing for the world title
Rain chaos spoils Verstappen’s victory
10/09/2022 10:09 am
Max Verstappen wins the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix. He is still not the new world champion – the defending champion is still missing a single point. The race in the rain offers a lot to talk about.
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix in the rain chaos at Suzuka. However, the Red Bull star missed the early title defense for the second time in a row because the full championship points were not awarded in the shortened race. Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari took second place in difficult conditions ahead of Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull.
However, a duel between the two pilots shortly before the finish line was still being investigated by the race stewards. Sebastian Vettel drove his Aston Martin in sixth place, Mick Schumacher finished 18th in the Haas racing car.
After the 18th of 22 rounds of the season, Verstappen now has 360 points in the World Championship standings and is comfortably ahead of Leclerc (251) and Perez (247). Mathematically, only Leclerc can prevent the Verstappens title with four remaining World Cup races. If the defending champion has a lead of at least 86 World Championship points after the upcoming race in two weeks in the USA, the trophy can no longer be taken away from him.